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Vera Katz, one of Oregon's most respected former politicians, bestowed her endorsement on the hotly contested Portland mayor's race Monday.

The winner? Charlie Hales, Katz' former colleague on the City Council.

"He's knowledgeable. He's honest. He loves this city," Katz, 78, said in an interview at the downtown Portland offices of Gallatin Public Affairs, where she is preparing to retire. "He knows what's going on, and he'll be able to ask the right questions."

It's unclear how much her recommendation will influence the race, now entering the final frenzy before the May 15 primary. But all three major candidates in the race -- Hales, Eileen Brady and state Rep. Jefferson Smith -- sought her blessing. Katz was Portland mayor from 1993 to 2004, following 20 years in the Oregon Legislature, where she became the state's first female House speaker in 1985.

Katz, who undergoes dialysis three times a week because cancer treatment damaged her kidneys, remains deeply interested in the affairs of Portland. The city, she said, is "at a crossroads," with pressing issues facing city schools, infrastructure and those committed to addressing spikes in gang violence.

Part of her interest stems from the fact that Mayor Sam Adams was once her chief of staff. But she also turns feisty when talking about the proliferation of billboards and signs around town.

"You ignore that and the city begins to look like Las Vegas," said Katz, who, in keeping with a tendency to sport a bold outfit to match her personality, wore a vivid black-and-white blazer with flaming red cuffs.

As for the mayor's race, it remains very much a toss-up, local pollster Tim Hibbitts said. So winning a big endorsement probably isn't enough to propel Hales to front-runner status, he said. "It's helpful, but I don't think it's in any way determinative," Hibbitts said. "At the end of the day, he'll have to make his case just like the other candidates."

But former city Commissioner Gretchen Kafoury, who served with Katz and Hales, said a push from Katz could give Hales some oomph. "She's very fondly recalled ... as someone who ran a tight ship and kept the lid on things," she said.

Former City Auditor Jewel Lansing, who wrote the definitive book on Portland politics, agreed. "She's both well-known and respected," Lansing said. "Those two coming together are actually kind of rare."

The other major candidates in the race -- now with 22 candidates overall, with the primary filing deadline just around the corner on March 6 -- have also garnered nods.

Former Mayor Tom Potter sided with Brady, a co-founder of New Seasons Market, as did the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 189 chose Smith.

Other notable Portland officials, though -- such as Commissioners Dan Saltzman, Nick Fish and Randy Leonard -- are sitting out the endorsement process, at least so far. Last week, the powerful Service Employees International Union Local 49 announced that it would not pick sides in the primary. The Portland Police Association and the Portland Firefighters Association have also said they'll wait.

Katz went to work at Gallatin after finishing her third term as Portland mayor. She officially retires Wednesday.

In describing why she endorsed Hales, Katz called Brady "competent and charming and very businesslike."

But she said she had reservations about Smith, who represents east Portland in the Oregon House. "I'm not sure how really interested he is in the mayor's job," Katz said. "It's not easy work. It's hard, hard, detailed work. Sometimes you have to spend weeks in the weeds of a budget."